A massive fire broke out on a Singapore-flagged merchant ship off the Kerala coast. The Indian Navy has diverted INS Surat for the rescue operation. Early reports suggest that several members of the crew jumped into the sea to save their lives. Out of the 22-member crew, 18 jumped into the ocean, and efforts are underway to rescue them. The merchant ship was en route to Mumbai. Around 20 containers on board the ship caught fire and fell off. Loud explosions were also heard. India Coast Guard has also “deployed multiple assets including CG Dornier for rescue & assessment,” Defence PRO for Kerala said in a statement.
